Lyrics: Leonard Bernstein's "Mass"

A Mass, written by a Jewish man, for JFK. Lyrics that have always rung true: FIRST BLUES SINGER Well, I went to the holy man and I confessed... Look, I can beat my breast With the best. And I'll say almost anything that gets me blessed Upon request... It's easy to stay as cool as autumn rain You start by sweeping standards down the well-known drain Then swap your zeal For nerves of steel It's so easy and you feel no pain. SECOND ROCK SINGER I don't know where to start There are scars I could show If I opened my heart But how far, Lord, but how far can I go? I don't know. SECOND BLUES SINGER If you ask me to love you on a bed of spice Now that might be nice Once or twice But don't look for sacraments of sacrifice They're not worth the price It's easy to keep the flair in your affair Your body's always ready, but your soul's not there Don't be nonplussed Come love, come lust, It's so easy when you just don't care. THIRD ROCK SINGER What I need I don't have What I have I don't own What I own I don't want What I want, Lord, I don't know. THIRD BLUES SINGER If you ask me to sing you verse that's versatile I'll be glad to beguile you For a while But don't look for content beneath the style Sit back and smile It's easy to criticize and beat my jive But hard to deny how neatly I survive And what could give More positive Plain proof that living is easy when you're half alive. ALL THREE ROCK SINGERS If I could I'd confess... ALL THREE BLUES SINGERS Easy... ALL THREE ROCK SINGERS Good and laud, nice and slow... ALL THREE BLUES SINGERS Easy... CHOIR Beatem Mariam semper Virginem Beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Joannem Baptistam, Sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum, Omnes sanctos, et vos, frates, Orare pro me Ad Dominum Deum nostrum. ALL SIX SOLOISTS What I say I don't feel What I feel I don't show What I show isn't real What is real, Lord - I don't know, No, no, no - I don't know. FIRST ROCK SINGER Come on, Lord, if you're so great Show me how, where to go Show me now - I can't wait Maybe it's too late, Lord, I don't know... FIRST BLUES SINGER Confiteor.... CELEBRANT God forgive you. ALL God forgive us all. CELEBRANT God be with you. ALL And with your spirit. CELEBRANT Let us pray. If you haven't experienced "Mass", it's a piece to be experienced. Incredibly controversial. But so true.